Tubular fabric



J.-E. LYNAM TUBULAR FABRIC Dec. 17, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1959 rM @A N MVL, /m m w M d 5y mi@ mw Afomeys J. E. LYNAM TUBULAR FABRIC Dec. 17, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12,' 1959 /n ven/or JOHN EDM/|70 LV/VAM J. E. LYNAM TUBULAR FABRIC Dec. 17, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. 12, 1959 FIG .4

/m/emor dO/-/V EDWARD LVNAM' Dec. 17, 1963 J. E. LYNAM 3,114,193

'mBULAR FABRIC Filed Oct. 12, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheetj 4 /m/enor p, G 5. Jo//N 501144,90 YA/AM Dec. 17, 1963 J. E. LYNAM l TUBULAR FABRIC '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. l2, 1959 /nvenof Joy/VEDWARD LV/VAM @m/MU J. E. LYNAM T'UBULAR FABRIC Dec. ,17, 1963 Filed oct. 12, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 J. E. LYNAM 3,114,193

TUBULAR FABRIC Dec. 17, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 12, 1959 FIG IO.

/nVenor JOHN EDMMRD YN/4M FIGJI.

United States Patent Oli 3,ll ulti?. Patienten oec. i?, tsss 3,114,193 TUBULAR FABREC .lohn Edward Lynaxn, Ma perley, Nottingham, England,

assigner to Automatic lcabling Company (Nottinhani) Limited Filed 9ct. l2, i959, Ser. No. 845,936 Claims priority, application Great Britain Get. 17, 1958 6 Claims. (Ci. 29-2.li)

This invention isy concerned with improvements in or relating to the cutting of tubular fabrics, particularly tubular knit fabric.

it is convenient to `form fabric `strips by knitting or otherwise forming a fabric in a tube and thereafter cutting the tubular fab-ric to form `a continuous fabric strip. if a short length of fabric stripping is required it may bo con enient to cut the -fabric strips from tl e tubular fab-rie in rings but if the length of 4the fabric strips required is longer than the circumference of `the tubular fabric it is necessary to cut the fa ric in the form of a helix, thereby to produce a continuous length of helically cut fabric stripping. lt is -With -this latter form of forming fabric stripping that the present invention is concerned.

`it is an object of the present invention to provide irnproved apparatus for this purpose.

Another object is to provide apparatus of such 'nproved construction that the `strip fabric has particular consistency of width throughout its length.

The invention provides apparatus `for cutting stripping heh/cally from tubular fabric, comprising a mandrel arranged to have the fabric tube passed axially over it, means for producing a steady helical advance of the fabric tube relatively lto the peripheral surface of the mandrel, and cutting mechanism for cutting a continuous strip off the leading end of the tube in said helical advance.

The invention also provides apparatus for cutting fabric tubing -spirally to provide strip fabric, comprising fabric tube supporting means including a mandrel for supporting one end of the fabric tube in coaxial relation therewith, cutter mechanism having `a cutter arranged for cutting through the supported fabric, `arid fabric feed means including a driving element arranged to have a spiral engagement circumferentially with `the supported fabric tube for effecting its spiral advance to the cutter.

`Conveniently the mandrel is a circular sectioned mandrei on which the fabric tube can be threaded for its end support, and the driving element is endless flexible element for spiral engagement c'ircuniferentially with the outer surface of the fabric on the mandrel. Conveniently the mandrel has a spiral guide formation for the flexible element, and there may also be external `guides for the flexible element.

Conveniently also the disposition of the cutter is to operate on part of the fabric where the latter is controlled between axially spaced parts of the flexible element formed by wrapping of the flexible element more than once round the mandrel with the desired spirality.

There may be provided means whereby the degree of spirality is afdiustable or changeable according to the width of strip `fabric required.

rfhe `fabric support means includes a rotatable support for a roll of the fabric tubing, and means are provided for obtaining synchronis-nr between rotation of this fabric roll support and rotation of the fabric feeding flexible element.

There is furthe-r conveniently provided means for adjustment ofthe cutter in relation tothe fabric, means for drawing olf strip, and accumulator means for the strip which may be means for layering the strip in a receiving container.

rllhe apparatus may be disposed to operate at any desired angie.

The fabric tube can be drawn olf from a roll or from a folded supply.

The foregoing and other features of `the invention are incorporated in the construction which is hereinafter described as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying `drain/ings in which:

FGURE l is a general side view of apparatus for forming strip fabric according to the invention;

IGURE 2 is a plan view of a tail stock end of the apparatus;

FlGURE 3 is an enlarged side view partly broken of the tail stock end of the apparatus;

FEGURE 4 is an enlarged broken side View of the head stock end of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is an inner end View of the head stock end of the apparatus;

FGURE 6 is a somewhat diagr'urunatic side View of parl-t of the head stock end of the apparatus sho-wing fabric strip layering means;

PGURES 7, y8 'and 9 are enlarged front plan and side detail views of parts of the layering means;

FEGURE l@ is a lower continuation of FGURE 5 showing the iayerinff means;

FIGURE l1 is a somewhat diagrammatic of the lower part of the layering means shown in FlG-URE l0.

Referring to FEGURE l of the drawings the apparatus briciiy consists of a trail stock standard l supporting a rotatable stirrup Z.- carrying an axle 3 onto lwhich is wound a roll of tubular fabric, and a head stock standard d having a shoulder da supporting a stationary mandrel 5' onto which the tubular fabric is threaded after passing between guide reds o carried by the stirrup 2. The fabric is driven onto the mandrel 5 by an endless fle ible belt 7 conveniently of circular sectioned type and driven in a spiral manner over the mandrel 5, guides for the beit '7 being represented at 8, 9, and lh. Cutter means in the forni of a circular disc knife il is located between axially spaced lap portions of the belt 7. As .the beit is driven the fabric is drawn onto the mandrel 5 in tube form from the roll R and is cut on the mandrel into a continuous helical strip S which passes lto layering rollers l2 and accumulated as stripping. The Width of the strip S depends upon lthe distance between laps of the belt 7 round the mandrel 5.' f

it will be appreciated that the stirrup 2 and mandrel 5 constitute fabric tube support ineens. including an annular member constituted by the nran'lre-l E .for ing one end of the fabric tube in co-axial relation therewith, and that cutter mechanism is provided having the l-iife il 'arranged for cutting through the fabric, and furtner that the belt constitutes driving element of fabric [feed means which is arranged yto have a spiral engagement circumferentially with the supported fabric tube for effecting its lspiral advance lwith one lap portion delivering the fabric strip from the knife, the strip passing under this lap portion `to the underside of the mandrel and next (FIGURE 5) over `a guide l2@ before passing to the layering rollers l2.

The belt 7 is conveniently of substantially inextensible type and conveniently has 'at leas-t one and a half `turns in contact with the Ifabric on the mandrel.

Suitable complete apparatus hereinafter to be fully described includes means whereby the degree of spirolity of the fabric feed `is adjustable or changeable [according to the `Width required for ythe strip fabric, means for obtaining synchronism .between rotation of the stirrup Z und rotation of the belt 7, means for adjustment of the knife il in relation to the fabric, and means for layering the strip fabric S in a receiving container conveniently by reciprocating the strip fabric and container in mutually transverse directions.

The stirrup 2 is carried by a spindle i3 (FlGURE 2) supp orton which there is a V belt pulley 14 for drive to the stirrup, the V belt travelling over the pulley 14 and also over lower' horizontally spaced V belt pulleys 15, 17, the pulley 17 being shown more clearly in FIGURE 3. The pulley 14 (FIGURE `3 is of infinitely variable type by being formed of two flange parts 14a, 14h biased together by spring 1S. For effecting speed adjustment the lower pulley 17 (-FGURE 3) is carried by a hanging arm 19a of a lever 19, the latter being pivoted at 26 and the upper arm 1% of which is engaged by a screw threaded part 21a of an indicator knob device 21. Turn ing the knob 21 in either direction causes the pulley 17 to slacken or tighten the V belt 15 which accordingly engages different diameter' parts of the pulley 14 to change the speed. FIGURES 1 and 3 further show that there may be brackets 26 on the tail stock standard 1 which can support a roll of fabric from which the roll R of fabric can -be wound onto the axle 3 prio-r to the full operation of the apparatus. When it is thus required to wind a fabric roll, a handle 24, which normally hangs on -a bell crank to hold a rod 22 (FIGURE 3) against a spring 23 clear of a hole 2a in the stirrup 2, is lifted off the bell crank 25 to allow the rod 22 to engage in said hole 2a and hold the stirrup 2 from rotation; the handle 24 is then applied to the axle 3, on which the lroll is to be wound, and is turned to effect the winding. To allow for independent turning of the stirrup 2 `for setting and other purposes, the pulley 14 may be under control of a friction clutch indicated at 13.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 the mandrel 5 conveniently has a rib 5a spirally disposed on it with almost two laps for guiding the belt in the spiral form required. The guide means 6 conveniently consists of a pair of tab elements 8a, 8b projecting from sockets Sc, 8d which are mounted on a support arm Se projecting from the head stock 4a and engage the lap portions of the belt on the mandrel to act as check or safety guides for the belt. The guide means il conveniently consists of a roller 9a mounted on a support arm 9b projecting from .the head stock 4a and engaging the belt 7 as it leads to the mandrel to control the lead onto the mandrel. The guide means 10 conveniently consists of a tab element Illa projecting from a socket lllb which is mounted on a support arm 10c projecting from the head stock 4a and engages one lap of the belt on the mandrel also for said check and safety purposes.

There is also further guide means 126 (FIGURE 5) consisting of a roller 26a mounted on ya support rod 26h projecting from the head stock 4a `and engaging the belt 7 as -it leaves the mandrel 5 to control the lead-off of the bel-t from the mandrel. Mounted on the same rod 2617 there may be a duplicate 27 of Ithe guide means 10a, 1Gb on the other side of the mandrel, and similarly there may be duplicates 23 of the guide means 8 with support rod projecting from the head stock 4a on the other side of the mandrel to act as check and safety guides for the belt 7. A slight adjustment of `at least the roller 9a of the leading guide means 9a (see lFIGURE 4) can be made, by operating clamping screw such as 9c and moving roller 9a along arm 9b, to obtain slight adjustment in width of the fabric strip; if greater adjustment is required this can be effected by fitting another mandrel with a rib having a desired different degree of spirality. The mandrel can be alternatively provided with a spiral groove instead of the rib 5a, and in this even-t the guides 8, 10, 27 and 28 may be dispensed with.

For driving 4the belt 7 there is a motor 36h, which through a suitable gearbox 36d drives belt 36a and pulley means 136, 136:1, the latter in turn drives a spindle 36 and there is secured on the spindle 36 a double pulley 32 ,over which the belt 7 laps ll/z times; from spindle 36 drive is taken through chain 36C and sprockets 13611, 136e to a spindle 35 which mounts a triple pulley 31 over which the belt '7 laps 21/2 times; from this pulley 31, the belt passes round a pulley 3G Aon a spindle 34 to which drive is imparted from the spindle through belt 35a and pulleys 135', 1350, a spindle 35h, and crossed belt V35C `and pulleys 135b, 135e. The slack of belt 7 is taken up by a jockey pulley 29 on an axle 33 carried by a pivoted arm 33a, the jockey pulley being gravitybiased for the purpose, there being no necessity for heavy tension on the belt at this slack side thereof. 'Ihe peripheral speed of the pulley 3G' is slightly greater that the linear speed of the belt 7 so that a small tension is created in the belt 7 between the pulleys 30 and 31 thereby causing the ybelt 7 to grip in the grooves of the pulleys 31 and 32.

Drive is also yimparted from the spindle 35 through belt 35d and pulleys 135d, 135e to a spindle 16a which mounts the aforesaid pulley 16 for driving the stirrup 2 and fabric roll R."

The knife 11 conveniently cuts in a slot in a part of the mandrel 5 at the location 37 (FIGURE 4) and it is carried for adjustment by a bracket 3S which is slidably disp.aceable in guides 39, and is set by a set screw 40 (FIGURE 5). The bracket 38 also mounts a motor 41 for driving the knife 11 through a belt 42 and pulley 42a, which is connected to the knife in axial alignment therewith, and a pair of sharpening discs 43.

Mechanism for layering the strip S as it is produced is shown in FIGURES 6 to ll; alternatively the machine may be readily modified by suit-able means for rolling up of the strip.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, the strip S passes from the draw-off rollers 12 into a collecting bin 44 which is removably mounted on a trolley 45, yand the draw-olf rollers 12, in .addition to drawing-olf the strip S are reciprocated to lay the strip in folds in the bin 44 lengthwise thereof whilst the trolley 45 reciprocates to reciprocate the 'bin 44 at right angles to the direction of folding to distribute the strip transversely of the bin 44.

More specifically the rollers 12 yare mounted, in a manner to be hereinafter fully described, on slide means indicated diagrammatically at 46 in FIGURE 6, which embodies -a vertical slot 46a for -a roller 47 attached to a horizontal endless chain 4S. The chain 48 is mounted on sprocket Wheels 49, 50 and the sprocket Wheel 50 is driven through belt and pulley and chain drive means 51 from the aforesaid pulley means 35a and spindle 35b (refer also to FIGURE 4). yMore specifically the pulley 51 is on the spindle 35h and drives ya Abelt 51a which also extends about pulley Slb, 51a` and a pulley 51d which is on the same spindle 51e as the pulley 50 about which the belt 48 passes, see also FIGURE 10.

Referring again to FIGURE 6, the slide means 46 is slidable horizontally on the spindle 35b, on which it is loosely mounted, by operation of the chain 43, the roller 47 riding up Iand down the slot 46a.

The right hand roller 12 `is driven ythrough belt and pulley means 52, 53, -54 from the motor 36b, and to allow for this whilst the roller 12 is also reciprocating, the belt and pulley means 52, 53 are controlled by a link 55 between the slide means 46 and an arm 56 pivoted to a bracket 57.

The slide means 46 is shown in detail in FIGURES 7, 8, and 9. Specifically there is `a back plate 58 having the slot 46a receiving the roller 47, and secured to the back plate 58 there are a pair of bushings 59 freely slidable on the spindle 35b. Secured to the bushes 59 there are spaced plates 60, 61 (FIGURES 8, 9) to which the link 55 is pivotally connected on bearings 60a, 61a (FIG- URE 9) on an axle 5219, with a lower pulley 52a of the belt and pulley means 52 mounted between the bearings 69a, 61a on the laxle 52h which mounts the driven roller 12.

The left hand roller 12 is carried at the lower end of a stirrup 64 (FIGURE 9) the latter being carried on an axle which is secured to a forward plate 66 itself secured to the bushings 59. The -stirrup 54 is rotationally biased by a spring 67 on the axle 65 to u ge the left hand roller 12 towards the driven roller 12, and on the axle 65 there are a pair of spaced guide plates 68, 69 between which the strip S travels. The forward plate 66 mounts a bushing 66a carrying a roller 62 which rides along a support yrail 63, the machine frame being suitably shaped to allow clearance for the passage of the roller 62, see FIGURES 7 and 9.

The peripheral speed of the draw-off rollers 12, is preferably slightly greater than the linear speed of travel of the strip to the draw-off rollers for adequate control of the strip.

The trolley 45 has track wheels 70 (FIGURES 6, 10, 1l) riding on rails 71. Slotted brackets 72 depend from the trolley and rollers 73 ride in the slots and are carried by a pair of endless chains 74. The endless chains 74 are driven through belt and pulley means 75', a spindle 76 and belt and pulley means 77 (FIGURE 10) from the aforesaid driven spindle 16a.

As indicated in FIGURES 1, 4, and 5 there may be also provided a waxing roller 177 which, through the intermediary of a mounting lever 7S, a rod 79 and a hand control Sti, can be displaced into engagement with the inner face of the fabric tube at a location as it approaches the mandrel 5. This location is so spaced by one or more pitch distances from the first lap or" the belt '7' on the mandrel that the waxing spiral coincides with the spiral line of pressure applied by the belt 7 in order to minimize friction between the fabric and the mandrel; this minimization of friction is advantageous for at least certain types of fabric.

The apparatus, instead of being disposed to operate in general horizontal attitude, may be disposed to operate in vertical attitude or at any other angle.

The fabric tube instead of being supplied in roll form may be supplied in folded form.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for cutting fabric tubing spirally along a helix angle to produce a continuous length of helically cut fabric stripping, said apparatus comprising a mandrel arranged as a supporting means for one end of said fabric tubing in coaxial relationship thereto, an endless exible bel-t for driving said fabric tubing onto said mandrel, said flexible endless belt comprising axially spaced lap p0rtions disposed about said mandrel and extending substantially normal to the axis of the mandrel, a cutter arranged between `said axially spaced lap portions and operable for severing said fabric tubing into a continuous helical strip, and means comprising a rib spirally disposed on said mandrel which is adapted to cooperate with said lap portions on said belt for advancing the fabric on said mandrel.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim l, wherein said belt is of circular cross-section and said rib is of arcuate cross-sectional shape.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said belt and rib each has at least one and a half turns about the mandrel, and comprising means for adjusting the helix angle to control the Width of said helically cut fabric stripping.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim l, wherein the supporting means for the fabric tubing includes a rotatable support for a roll of said fabric tubing, and wherein said cutter includes means for adjusting the same with respect to the fabric tubing.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said rotatable support for a roll of fabric tubing comprises means for obtaining synchronism between rotation of said fabric roll and the travel of said endless exible belt.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and which includes a container layering said helically cut fabric stripping in a receiving container.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,032 Andrews June 1l, 1895 5905,207 Mitchell et al. Dec. l, 1908 1,066,304 Mitchell et al July 1, 1913 1,432,207 Prior et al Oct. 17, 1922 1,499,924- Hausheer July 1, 1924 2,644,522 Parker et al. July 7, 1953 2,895,596 Kuypers July 21, 1959 

1. APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRIC TUBING SPIRALLY AONG A HELIX ANGLE TO PRODUCE A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF HELICALLY CUT FABRIC STRIPPING, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A MANDREL ARRANGED AS A SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ONE END OF SAID FABRIC TUBING IN COAXIAL RELATIONSHIP THERETO, AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT FOR DRIVING SAID FABRIC TUBING ONTO SAID MANDREL, SAID FLEXIBLE ENDLESS BELT COMPRISING AXIALLY SPACED LAP PORTIONS DISPOSED ABOUT SAID MANDREL AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF THE MANDREL, A CUTTER ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID AXIALLY SPACED LAP PORTIONS AND OPERABLE FOR SEVERING SAID FABRIC TUBING INTO A CONTINUOUS HELICAL STRIP, AND MEANS COMPRISING A RIB SPIRALLY DISPOSED ON SAID MANDREL WHICH IS ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID LAP PORTIONS ON SAID BELT FOR ADVANCING THE FABRIC ON SAID MANDREL. 